Karna Urges Duryodhana to Abandon Despondency
At dawn, Karna finds Duryodhana still lying in despair and speaks to him with reason and affection — only the living can defeat enemies, he argues, and he swears on his weapons to kill Arjuna when the thirteen years are done. Duryodhana rises, orders his army prepared, and marches back to Hastinapura in full splendor.
When the night was over, Karna Vaikartana saw Duryodhana lying where Kritya had left him — still sunk in the despair that had driven him to fast unto death. Karna smiled.
He joined his hands in salutation and spoke words full of reason.
"No one who is dead can defeat his enemies," Karna said. "Only those who are alive witness fortune. How does a dead one obtain fortune? Where is the victory? This is not the time for despondency, fear or death."
He embraced the mighty-armed king with both arms.
"Arise, O destroyer of enemies. Why are you lying down? Why are you sorrowing? How can you desire to die when the enemy has been tormented through your valour? Or if fear has been engendered at the sight of Arjuna's valour — I truly promise that I will kill Arjuna in battle. When thirteen years have elapsed, I swear on my weapons that I will bring the Parthas under your subjugation."
The words landed. Duryodhana remembered what the daityas had told him in the night. He saw the prostrations of the others around him. He arose.
Having heard the words of the daityas, he adopted a firm resolution in his heart. The tiger among men asked his army to be prepared — with many chariots, elephants, horses and large numbers of infantry.
The great army marched like the waves of the Ganga. It had white umbrellas and pennants and extremely white whisks. It was extremely radiant with chariots, elephants and infantry, like the sky when the thick clouds have disappeared and autumn is yet to arrive. Indras among brahmanas (brahmanas as radiant as the god Indra) pronounced benedictions of victory over him and praised him like an emperor. With hands joined in salutation, Duryodhana received the homage of garlands.
Blazing in supreme prosperity, Suyodhana was in the front, together with Karna and the dice-player Soubala. Beginning with Duhshasana, all his other brothers were there, and Bhurishravas, Somadatta and the great king Bahlika. The extenders of the Kuru lineage followed that lion among kings on many types of chariots, horses and excellent elephants. In a short while, they entered their own city. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 537